Initiative Officer, Great Communities Collaborative

ORGANIZATION OVERVIEW
The San Francisco Foundation (TSFF) is the community foundation serving the Bay Area since 1948, granting more than $800 million over the past ten years. Through the generosity and vision of our family of donors, TSFF awarded grants totaling more than $76.0 million in fiscal year 2010. TSFF brings together donors and builds on community assets through grantmaking, leveraging, public policy, advocacy, civic engagement and leadership development in the areas of community health, community development, arts and culture, the environment, and education. www.sff.org
THE GREAT COMMUNITIES COLLABORATIVE
The Great Communities Collaborative is a group of organizations dedicated to ensuring that the San Francisco Bay Area is made up of healthy, thriving neighborhoods that are affordable to all and linked to regional opportunities by a premier transit network. The GCC connects local residents with the tools and resources they need to influence decision making, forge diverse partnerships to craft lasting strategies and harness the means to help move visions to reality.
POSITION SCOPE
The Initiative Officer of the Great Communities Collaborative (IOGCC) provides leadership to and management of the Great Communities Collaborative (GCC). The GCC Initiative addresses specific environmental and community development issues and opportunities related to transit-oriented development and affordable housing for the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Initiative Officer reports to the Environment Program Officer and is a member of the Environment Team at The San Francisco Foundation. S/he also works in close collaboration with the Program Officer, Regional Planning, Silicon Valley Community Foundation.
The IOGCC coordinates the activities of the GCC to achieve strategic goals; implement actions; cultivates effective relationships with partners, funders and contractors; and fundraises to support the GCC. The Initiative Officer serves as the liaison between the GCC funders, partners, and advisors and s/he is the point person on the Transit- Oriented Affordable Housing Fund (TOAH).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Collaboration and Support
Support and participate in the development, expansion, and strengthening of GCC’s formal governance and program bodies’ ability to realize the vision, mission and long term goals of the GCC. Work closely with local and regional groups while actively supporting Transit-oriented development in specific communities. Responsible for day-to-day coordination of the
GCC and its special projects including face-to-face meetings, telephone contact and written correspondence with partners, advisors, grantees, other funding partners and the media. Prepare reports and presentations for various stakeholders. Supervise consultants and key projects (such as the TOAH Fund and the evaluation). Provide information and technical assistance to community-based organizations regarding grantmaking, organizational effectiveness, and program evaluation in the course of assessing grant requests. Assign and manage staff to support GCC activities, this may include administrative and other support staff, consultants, facilitators, and/or advisors
Fundraising and Finance
Identify potential funding sources for GCC activities and secure grants or individual gifts. Raise grant monies, private dollars –including monies for Program Related Investments (PRI’s) and the TOAH Fund. Leverage public dollars whenever possible. Develop grant proposals to potential GCC partners, individual donors, and government agencies. Track grants received, prepare progress and final reports, and document expenditures. Provide information and technical assistance to GCC grantees regarding grantmaking, organizational effectiveness, and program evaluation in the course of assessing grant requests to the GCC. Create and manage GCC budgets and assure prompt payment and monitoring of expenses in accordance with each Foundation’s policies and procedures.
Program Design and Development
Research programmatic and public policy issues to propose to funders and partners for possible implementation. Design and implement ongoing mapping of programmatic needs and investment opportunities. Shape the ongoing evolution of the GCC’s organizational structure. Organize and direct the implementation of the four strategies identified in the GCC Five Year Strategic Plan.
Foundation Operations and Grants Management
Advise TSFF on land use and transportation grantees, and SVCF’s Regional Planning grantees as needed. As appropriate, support the integration of the GCC into the ongoing grantmaking and programmatic work of each community foundation in accordance with each of the Community Foundations’ mission and values. Work with each of the Community Foundations to identify synergies and deepen their roles in systems change around TOD, transportation, housing, economic development, workforce development and community health. In concert with the Program Officers, prepare informational reports and/or presentations to each Board. Work cooperatively with other relevant departments
including financial operations and public affairs as appropriate. Hire, manage and review GCC staff and consultants as needed.
Marketing and Public Relations
As appropriate, represent the interest of the collaborative and foundations in regional decision making arenas (such as MTC’s, ABAG’s and the Bay Area Council’s development of the region’s first Sustainable Communities Strategy for SB375). Document the progress, results, and lessons learned from the foundations’ and the GCC’s work. Disseminate materials and prepare presentations to relevant public, or philanthropic workshops or conferences, donor forums or briefings.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Undergraduate degree in relevant environmental, public administration, community development, urban planning or related discipline required. Master’s degree strongly preferred.
Experience: Minimum of eight years of increasingly responsible professional experience in the sustainable development field working in the non-profit, philanthropic, or public sector. Requires a successful and positive track record working in culturally and ethnically diverse communities. Evidence of successful fundraising experience along with experience in effectively managing projects and staff is required. Experience in urban planning/smart growth development, environmental policy, and/or environmental health and justice is also required. The ideal candidate will be familiar with local and regional policies and politics. Public sector and grantmaking experience coupled with experience in managing collaborative initiatives is highly desirable.
Knowledge, skills, and competencies: Ability to lead collaborative initiatives of multiple funders and provide cross-sector learning opportunities for both funders and grantees. Demonstrated commitment to principles of both environmental sustainability and social equity. Excellent listening, oral and written communication skills. Skilled in building effective collaborative relationships with partners, colleagues, constituencies, and internal and external teams across a variety of sectors. Ability to effectively manage multiple priorities and projects simultaneously. Skill in managing, directing, mentoring, and developing direct reports. Demonstrated personal integrity and commitment to this work and the ability to engender trust, credibility and confidence with a variety of constituencies. Knowledge of community organizing, group facilitation and conflict resolution desirable.
Computer literacy in the Microsoft environment including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required.
COMPENSATION: Commensurate with background and experience
TO APPLY: Send Resume with cover letter by November 14, 2011 to resumes@sff.org orMailto: HumanResources
The San Francisco Foundation 225 Bush Street, Suite 500 San Francisco, CA 94104 FAX: (415) 477-2784
The San Francisco Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and seeks diversity with respect to race, ethnic, culture, gender, age, sexual orientation, and physical abilities.